REO Speedwagon excited about Artpark

Benjamin
Franklin once said, "In this world nothing can be said to be
certain, except death and taxes."

Come
Tuesday, we can reasonably add something else to that list of
certainties: The only thing pouring down from above at Artpark will
be hit songs.

That's
good news for headline act REO Speedwagon.

"We
used to say 'REO, "Rain Expected Outdoors," REO," lead
guitarist Dave Amato said Thursday. "We've played so many rain
dates. We hate that. But we still do it, and the people come in the
rain."

When
told the forecast (79 and sunny), and of Artpark's
anti-precipitation policy, he said, "That's perfect."

REO
Speedwagon recently performed indoors in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Amato said his band is looking forward to playing outside on the U.S.
side.

"We
love that area. Are you kidding me? Niagara Falls? We love that.
Awesome," he said.

"It's
just incredible up there," he added. "Beautiful area. People are
great. I'd like to take my girl up there, for sure."

Amato
said he is excited to perform in Lewiston. He's heard of Artpark's
stage views, and understands it's an award-winning outdoor music
venue.

"I
can't wait to get up there and see how it looks," he said.

"I
look forward to every show, to tell you the truth," Amato
explained. "I love playing, and I love playing with this band. We
all do. And we love playing in the summertime. You know, everybody's
happy and they want to get out. If we play in the New York area
during the wintertime, it's a little tough. And everybody's happy
to have us there, and we want to be there in the summertime. So,
we're just looking forward.

"Every
gig we play, there's no better or worse. We just come and try to do
the best show we can every night. And we have fun doing it, and we
hope the people do, too."

When
asked about REO Speedwagon's live show, Amato said, "Almost every
song is a hit. I can guarantee you that.

"A
lot of energy - high energy; running across the stage. Everything
you expect in an REO show. You get the ballads along with the rock
songs. Everything you think you're going to get and more.

"And
we got a great stage that lights up. And backdrops, and good,
high-energy rock 'n' roll. So come out and see us. It'll be a
lot of fun. Everybody who comes has a lot of fun. We guarantee it,
and we give 1,000 percent.

"We
know the economy is not what it should be, so we know everybody
that's spending money for tickets, we've got to give them the
best possible show we can. Usually people come out and say, 'My
god, you guys rock.' They think REO, and the ballads, and stuff
like that, but (say,) 'You guys really rocked. Just unbelievable.
I've got to see you guys again.'

"(We)
just try to give them 1,000 percent."

One
might think that, after decades on the road, Amato and his bandmates
would be tired of touring. But "That doesn't get old for me,"
he said. "Sometimes you need a little break from it, and you come
home for a little bit and say, 'Wow, I got tired from that
five-week run,' or whatever. But then, when you're home for two
weeks, you go, like, 'You know what? I want to get out there
again.'

"If
you're a musician - I don't care who you are or how old you are
- it's in the blood. You want to go out there.

"I
love it. Myself, if you're asking me, I just, I love it."

REO
Speedwagon just wrapped a five-week run with Ted Nugent and Styx.

"We've
been out here for so long we know each other," Amato said. "Kind
of like baseball teams, you know, we know the guys from the other
teams. When we go out with somebody, we get excited and we see old
friends again. It's great to hang with them for however many weeks
of the tour it is."

Of
course, Amato is happy just hanging with REO Speedwagon, too.

"When
I look across the stage, just respect of Kevin, Bruce and Neal," he
said. "Bryan and I joined in 1989. Just from what they did before.
I've been in the band for 24 years. They're my brothers and my
best friends, and I just respect them for what they did in the heyday
with 'Hi Infidelity' (which included songs "Keep on Loving You"
and "Take It on the Run"). ... I didn't think I'd be in this
band that long. When I was doing stints with Nugent, like for three
years, and Cher, I think I did four years with that. I mean, 24 years
- I can't believe it. I can't believe I've been in this band
for 24 years.

"And
we all live in the same bus, and we're good friends. And Kevin's
songwriting is amazing. And Bruce, and Neal's been in the band for
over 40 years. It's incredible.

"A
lot of respect there. They deserve a lot of respect. I'm proud to
be in the band with those guys - great guys, too."

REO
Speedwagon headlines "Tuesday in the Park" at Artpark on June 18.
The show begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, or for tickets,
visit www.artpark.net.